'Everyone gets a meal' at Blue Latitudes holiday feast in Dover

Thanks to the Dover Thanksgiving Celebration Committee and its sponsors, close to 350 community residents were fed a warm and traditional Thanksgiving meal on red tablecloths, with live music by Kathy Fink & Friends and the Dover High School chorus.

“We're serving a dinner for senior citizens, the Dover Children's Home, Dover Housing Authority and Somersworth Housing Authority,” said the president and CEO of Relyco and a member of the Thanksgiving Celebration Committee, Michael Steinberg. “Anyone who needs a meal. If somebody comes and needs one, we will take them. It isn't wide open to everyone, but we would never turn anyone away.”

Steinberg said the meal has grown every year, with more residents at this dinner than the first one in 2009. Attendance has risen 30 percent since last year.

“Also, everyone who comes receives a gift. We're giving everyone $15 Walmart gift cards,” he said. “The whole idea is to make their day and make a nice Thanksgiving.”

Members of the community volunteered to make the day special, dedicating their time to serve the meals, prepare them and clean up.

“It's growing momentum,” Steinberg said. “We might go to a fourth seating next year if we have to. If we have to, we will. We want to make sure everyone gets a meal.”

Steinberg approached the president of Blue Latitudes, Jeff Roemer, four and a half years ago, after coming in to the restaurant for lunch.

“My office is in Dover here and I just said, 'Hey, Dover needs this, Jeff. We need to do something on Thanksgiving Day, or the day before.' He decided to host this out of the goodness of his heart.”

Roemer said 220 pounds of turkey were being prepared in the restaurant's kitchen on Wednesday morning.

Santa and Mrs. Claus also made an appearance Wednesday, giving diners hugs and kisses and warm wishes for the holiday season.

“It is fantastic when you talk to people who are truly grateful. It is a lot of effort, and you think about it from an organization standpoint, until you get somebody who says, 'I really want to thank you. I wouldn't have had the opportunity to have a meal for my family,'” Roemer said. “I had a family in one time who had just lost their home and I was almost embarrassed because they were so grateful for it. It makes you feel good. Certainly, makes us feel good heading into the holidays, as well.”

Roemer said his intention is to fill every seat that he has available in the restaurant.